Digital Television 5-20-08

 

Digging Deeper on Digital TV

A FACS tele-seminar, Tuesday, May 20, 2008phone.jpg

On Feb. 17, 2009, U.S. television stations will switch from analog to digital format. Much is being said about the need to get converter boxes or even new television sets to handle the change.

What about other consumer products such as VCRs?  How else will the change affect not only the estimated 19 million households that rely on antennas for TV, but other consumers and retailers  The buildup of concern is reminiscent of the fears about Y2K a decade ago.

To help journalists report on the transition, FACS will present a tele-seminar with industry experts who can answer questions on how the transition will affect consumers. This seminar is aimed at journalists who cover technology, business, consumer affairs and the broadcast-cable-satellite industries.

The tele-seminar faculty includes:

  • Marcellus Alexander, Executive Vice President, Television, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
  • Jason Oxman, Senior Vice President, Industry Affairs, Consumer Electronics Association

"Reporting the Digital Television Transition,” a free tele-seminar for journalists, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, at 11 a.m. Eastern (8 a.m. Pacific). It is presented by the Foundation for American Journalists (FACS) and its programming partner, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).

For further information about this seminar, click on the toolbar under "Seminars," then click on "2008 Seminars."

Register
 
Civil Religion: New Book Grows Out of FACS Seminar Series

religious_liberty_book.jpgThe Foundation for American Communications is pleased to announce the publication of "Religious Liberty in America: The First Amendment in Historical and Contemporary Perspective" by the University of Massachusetts Press in association with FACS.

This book by former FACSnet editor Bruce Murray is the end product of the Journalism, Religion & Public Life series of seminars produced by FACS and the Pew Charitable Trusts. These seminars explored the connections between religion and politics and how to report on them.

A draft edition of the book was circulated at the Religion Newswriters' Association convention in Miami two years ago. The new edition is substantially updated with additional research and analyses recent developments, including changes on the Supreme Court, lawsuits regarding "intelligent design" and the Pledge of Allegiance, and religious symbols in the public square.

You may order "Religious Liberty in America" on the University of Massachusetts Press Web site: http://www.umass.edu/umpress/fall_07/murray.htm